Ruffling attachment



(No Model.) 7

H. G. GOODRIGH.

RIIFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR'SEWING MACHINES.

No. 284,628. I v Patented Sept. 11,1883.

Iznzlehar n. PETERS. Pmwmmmmr. Wuhinghan, o, c.

I a l UNITED I STATES; P T NT OFFrc HARRY C. GOODRICH, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINESK SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters .lE'atent No. 284,628, dated September 11, 1883.

' Application filed November 22, 1881. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, HARRY O. GoonRI om residing at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the UnitedStates, have invented a new and useful Im provement in RufflingAttachments for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a fulldescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a top or plan view,- Fig. 2, a side elevation, showing theactuatinglink depressed aud the ruffling-blade drawn back; Fig. 3, aside elevation, showing the actuating link elevated and theruffling-blade advanced; Fig. 4, a bottom or under side View.

This invention relates to rufflers or rufliing attachments forsewing-machines,and has for its objects to simplify the construction andperfect and improve the operation of the several parts composing thedevice or attachment, and to render the action of the ruffling-blademore certain and sure, and have its movements readily, accurately, andeasily adjustable to give the required length of stroke, and have theblade so arranged and located with relation to its carrying andactuating mechanism that any failure to operate properly, either byreason of lost motion in any of the parts, irregularity of stroke of theruffiing-blade, or improper time between the stroke of theruffiing-blade and the movements of the needle, can be remedied and thedevice be made to work in a satisfactory manner in these re foot bar;

spects. These objects I accomplish by the novel construction andarrangement of devices hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, A represents the frame or support; B, theactuating-link; O, the sup-- port for the stationary cloth-retainingblade,- (1, the standard or upright of the frame; I), the socket forattaching the frame to the presserc, the opening for the passage of thepresserdootbar; d, the base-plate of the frame; 6, the side piece or armof the frame on which the slide or head moves; f, the slot in thesidepiece or arm; 9, the main slide or head secondary slide or head; 17, theslot in the slide or head 71 j, the ruffling-blade; 7c, the secondarystationary cloth-retaining blade; Z, the main cloth-retaining blade; m,the support for the forward end of the ruffling-blade; n 0 p q thisframe or support is made from a single piece, bent or formed into shapeto have a standard or vertical portion, a, a base or horizontal plate,(1, and a side piece orv arm, 6. The;

standard or upright a projects up from the forward end of the base orbottom plate, (I, and its upper end is provided with ahead or socket, b,in which is an opening, 0, for the passage of the end of thepresser-foot bar. This standard or upright a is of the requisite lengthto be attached by its socket and have the under face of the base-plate(I rest over the material when the presser-foot bar is down, the same asan ordinary presser-foot, and when attached and properly adjusted theattachment is made secure by means of the set-screw a, passing throughthe socket b on one side, so that its end" will engage the face of thepresserfoot bar.

The base or bottom plate, (1, stands at right angles, or nearly so, tothe vertical standard or upright a, and projects out from such standardsufficientl y far to furnish a support ,for the side piece or arm, 6,and leave a clear space between the inner end of such arm and thestandard. This base (Z is provided with an opening, 15, located at theproper point, for the passage of the needle, and to allow the needlebarto operate clearof the standard or upright a, and its rear portion isslightly elevated, so as to leave a clear space for the movements of theruifling-blade and the passage of the cloth or material being ruffled.

The side piece or arm, 6, is located, as shown, at the extreme edge orside of the base (2, on the rear portion thereof, and has its forward orattached end bent or curved upward to bring the main portion or body ina higher The main por- 7 plane than that of the base. tion or body ofthis arm extends out suffir, set-screws; s, the slot in the free end ofthe perfect freedom of movement,

and keep the ing between the slide and arm,

' pivots of the actuating-link from coming in line and creating a strainon the parts.

The slide or head gis provided with a groove or recess on its outer sideor face to receive the body of the arm 6, and is held inplace, so as toslide freely back and forth thereon, by means of the set-screw or pin,q, the shank. of which passes through a longitudinal groove,

f, in the body of the arm; or it may be held in place in some othersuitable manner.

The slide or head his located on the inner side or face of the head orslide 9, and is held in place by means of a set screw or pin 1*, theshank of which passes through a slot, 1', in the head or slide h. Thisslot w is for the purpose of permitting the slide or head 9 to move inboth directions, to a certain extent, without affecting the slide orhead h, and when the limit of this independent movement of the head 9 isreached, the two heads 9 h will move together, the object being to givethe proper length of stroke to the ruffling-blade. The distance that theslide or head 9 travels independently is regulated by a set-screw, o,

' located in the'end of the head h, the end of which can be made'toproject a greater or less distance into the slot 43, so that in thebackward movement of the head 9 the shank or body of the set-screw orpin 0" will strike the end of the set-screw o sooner or later in itsmovement and carry the slide or head h also back, and when the backwardmovement ceases the slide or head 9 will move forward, without movingthe slide or head h, until the shank of r strikes the forward end faceof the slot 1', or the end of the set-screw p, when the two slides orheads will move forward together until the limit of the forward movementis reached. On the return or backward movement of g the slide or head hremains stationary until the body of r and the end of o engage and causethe two slides or heads to move back together.

The ruffling-bladej is made from a piece of spring-steel or othersuitable material, and has its forward end provided withnotches or teethto catch the cloth or material, and an opening or slot for the passageof the needle, as usual. This blade, at its rear end, is firmly securedin any suitable manner to the under face of the slide h, and its lengthis such that when advanced by the forward movement of the slide or headto the end of its stroke the needleopening in its forward end will be inline with the needle-opening t in thebase or plate d, and it is held orsupported so as to be freeto move and maintain the proper relation tothe work by the guide 922,. secured to the under face of the support 0,in the form of construction shown, which guide has a suitable slot forthe passage of the blade, and is made yielding to conform to the curveof the blade, so that in use the blade will not become straightened orlose its curvature and be rendered non-act- The size of the ruflles isvaried as desired by giving the blade a long or short stroke, the shortstroke producing a fine gather, and an increase in the length of strokeincreasing the width or size of the gather accordingly. The length ofstroke depends upon travel of the slide or head h. To produce a shortstroke the end of the set-screw 0 is made to project but slightly, if atall, so that the engagement of the screw or pin 0' therewith or with theend face of the slot 1; will occur near the finish of the return orbackward movement of the slide or head 9, giving the slide or head h asmall degree of travel and withdrawing the blade j to that extent only.To increase the length of stroke the end of the screw 0 is made toproject farther into the slot i, giving the slide or head h a fartherlength of travel backward by the engagement of the screw or pin r withthe end of the screw 0 at a point farther forward, withdrawing the bladej a greater distance and increasing its stroke, the degree of increasedepending on the projection of the screw 0 into the slot The retainingstrip or plate h is made of a thin strip of steel or other suitablematerial, and is attached to the upper face of the holding-plate Z byriveting or otherwise, and is given a slight upward bend or curve toraise its forward end above the face of the plate I, and this forwardend is provided with joints or teeth, which act to catch the cloth ormaterial and prevent it from being drawn back by the withdrawal of therufiler-blade. The holding-blade l is also made of a strip of steel orother suitable material, and is located beneath and in line with therufiiingblade. Its rear end is attached, by rivets or otherwise, to asupport, 0, and its forward end projects heneath the base or plate 11 inline, or nearly so, with the opening it, and this end and the forwardend of the plate k are each provided with a slot or opening for thepassage of the needle,which slots are in line with each other and withthe needle-opening t.

The actuating link or pitman B is made from a single piece of brass orother suitable material having sufficient rigidity to operate the slideor head g. One end of this link or pitman is provided with a slot oropening, 8, for the passage of a set-screw, by means of which it ispivotally attached to the needle-bar, and the other endis pivotallyattached to the slide or'head g by the set-screw q. The length of thislink or pitman B is such in relation to the needle-bar and the slide orhead 9 that the upward movement of the bar will advance the slide orhead and the downward movement will recede the slide or head, theadvance commencing at the commencement of the upward movement, and therecession commencing at the commencement of the downward movethe lengthof ment, the advance ceasing when the highest point of ascent isreached, and the recession at the lowest point of descent.

In use there will be more or less wear of the pivots and parts, causinglost motion to some extent, which might produce an insufficient advanceof the ruffling-blade. This defect can be remedied and the blade begiven the requisite advance by the set-screw 1), located in the forwardend of the slide or head 71 the end of which can be made to project intothe slot z, to be engaged by the set-screw or pin r in the advance ofthe slide at the proper point to advance the slide it the distancerequired to bring the forward end of the blade in correct relation tothe needle. In the event the slide 9 does not have asufficient forwardmovement to advance the slide it far enough to proj ect the end of theruffling-blade, as required, the end of the screw 1) can be made toproject into the slot i to give the head It the required amount offorward movement by engagement with the screw or pin 1*.

The support C may be of the form shown, or of any other suitable form.Asshown, it is made from a single piece, bent to have two side pieces orarms connected at one end only. The free end of one arm is attached, byrivets or otherwise, to the side piece or arm, 6, and the free end ofthe other arm is left unattached and extends underneath the arm e andruffling-bladej, and to its end is attached the holding-plate Z.

In use the device is attached to the presserfoot bar by the socket b andset-screw n, and the link B is attached to the needle-bar by a set-screwpassed through the slot 8, or otherwise, and the cloth or materialplaced beneath the ruffling-blade. As the forward end of the link B israised by the ascent of the needlebar the slide or head is advanced, andas the forward end of this linkis depressed by the descent of theneedlebar the slide or head 9 will be receded, and these movements ofthe slide or head will give the ruffling-blade corresponding movementsthrough the slide or head h, which movements of the blade form theruffles, in the usual manner.

The length of the side piece or arm on which the slide g travels and itslocation and arrangement in relation to the needle are such as to allowthe slide to move forward and back the distance required to permit thefull stroke of the needle-bar to be made, and these parts and the link Bhave such relation to each other as that their movements will beperfectly free,

and so that the movement of one part will not interfere with themovements of the others.

hat I claim asnew, and desire to secure A, provided with an upright sidepiece, 6, a slide, mounted on the side piece, a link or pitman, B,having a direct pivotal connection at one end with the slide, and at itsother end adapted to connect with a needle-bar, and a slide, it, looselymounted on and reciprocated by the slide 9, and carrying aruffling-blade, substantially as described. 7

2. The combination of a supporting-frame, A, provided with an uprightside piece, 6, a slide, 9, mounted thereon, a link or pitman, B, havinga direct pivotal connection at one end withthe slide, and at its otherend adapted to connect with a needle-bar, a slide, it, carried by andadjustable 011 the slide g, and provided with a ruffling-blade, j,substantially as described.

3. The combination of the frame A, provided with a projecting arm, 6,arranged in a plane above the base of the frame, a slide, 9,

mounted on and guided by said arm, a link,

B, having a direct pivotal connection at one end with. the slide, and atits other end adapted to connect with aneedle-arm, andaslide, h,connected with and reciprocated by theslide 1 and provided with adownwardly-projecting ruffling-blade, substantially as described. 7 4.The combination of the frame A, having the projecting arm 6, providedwith the slot f, the slide 5/, mounted on the arm, the link B, connectedat one end with said slide by a de vice passing through the slot, and aslide, 71, having a slot, 1', and ruffling-blade j, and connected withthe slide 9 by a device passing through its slot 43, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination of the frame A, provided with a projecting arm, 6,the .slide 9, mounted on the arm, the link B, pivoted at one end to thesaid slide, the slidelz, having the slot 3, the screw or pin 7',securing thetwo slides together, and the set-screws 0 and p at oppositeends of the slotted slide 72, substantially as described.

6. A ruffiing attachment for sewing machines, consisting of the frame orsupport A, constructed as described, link or pitman B, slide or head g,slide or head h, having a slot, 1', set or adjusting screws 0 p,ruffling-bladej, retaining-blade k I, and support 0, all constructed andarranged substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a ruffling attachment,a link or pitman, B, slide or head slide orhead 72, having slot i, and set or adjusting screws 0 p, incombinationwith a ruffling-blade, j, retaining-blade k I, support 0, and yieldingguide m, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

' HARRY O. GOODBIOH.

Witnesses:

0. WV. BOND, A. H. ADAMS.

